Day 2 Film 6 - Tucker & Dale vs Evil vs Kidnapped

This is going to be a hard one for this writer. Not to choose. But to unbiasedly write about them both. For me, Tucker & Dale is one of the very biggest highlights of the festival. And Kidnapped is well... what it says.

Tucker & Dale vs Evil - Mainscreen 9.55pm

TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE TUCKER AND DALE.

Can you gather something from that?! THIS is something to be excited about. When the lineup was first announced back on the 1st of this month and this writer sat down for a Youtube marathon to watch all the trailers. There were 4 that I got really really excited about it. And this is one of them:

You know how 'Zombieland' took zombie conventions, flipped them headlong and made them funny; well it looks like Tucker & Dale is gonna do that somersault for 'Friday the 13th'/'Wrong Turn' ethos of horror. Having seen the first half (albeit without any visual effects added), I can tell you this film is funny. It is clever. It is dumb. Its just what you want in the midst of a day of bleak horror. This looks set to break the tension just like Andy's Quiz or Adam Green & Joe Lynch's 'Road to Frightfest' shorts do.

Kidnapped - Discovery Screen 9.30pm



So for those that dont seek that tension release and would prefer something a little more... vicious, there is Kidnapped. And viscous it certainly looks. Taking a Haneke/Zombie hyper real approach to its violence, this little Spanish flick seems set to take what Mothers Day did earlier this year and smash you in the face with it. Repeatedly. As winner of best horror at Fantastic Fest, this looks like it could be a real surprise success for those that take the Discovery Screen gamble.

So theres your choices, LOL's or :O's?

Day 2 Film 5 - The Glass Man vs Blood Runs Cold

Next up for Friday its home-grown recession thriller versus Swedish beyond-the-grave slasher. Take your pick?

The Glass Man - Mainscreen 7.05pm

What would you do to save your family from debt? What would you go through to prevent your loved ones from knowing you lost everything? Well thats what fan favourite Andy Nyman must decide when faced with ominous debt collector James Cosmo. Yes you heard that right, Andy Nyman. When you pull off arguably the scariest way to spend a night in London at (no, not a Camden clothes store) the Duke of York Theatre for 'Ghost Stories', you know the horror fans are going to eat up anything your in, produced or vaguely breathed on.

Sure the director, for whom Glass Man is a feature length debut, starred in the abhorent 'Mother Of Tears', but for most that should just a be a snow cone on the iceberg that is the awesomeness Glass Man could be. Could be.

Blood Runs Cold - Discovery Screen 7.30pm

So what could possibly contend with the Nyman?

Go watch this trailer; no, now. Go.

Thats what can compete with Nyman. How amazing does it look. Sure the trailer seems suspect in how it gives so much away, the monster looks like a cross between something from 'Watchmen' and a gimp and it flaunts its micro budget like a pre-emptive excuse. But LOOK AT IT. How wonderful is that final shot? How clear does everything look considering it was shot on a camera reserved usually for stills? How nice is it to see something that holds that retro-ish feel while simultaneously looking polished and gleaming? It seems when it comes to horror Scandinavia is the new Japan in the way they seem to be turning out true gems what with 'Let The Right One In', 'Cold Prey' and 'Dead Snow' to name a few. Will Blood Runs Cold follow suit?

So what'll it be? Glass Man or Blood Runs Cold?

Day 2 - Film 4 Urban Explorer vs Rabies

And award to the two film billing that the majority of people will know nothing/care little about goes to these two little flicks. Will either of these films catch festival goers enough to cancel any Saturday evening dinner plans?

Urban Explorer - Main Screen 5.00pm

Neil Marshall did it. Cristopher Smith did it. Nick Hamm did it. Can Andy Fetscher do it? What are they doing? Doing for the subteranean world what Jaws did for sharks. Spelunking under metropolitan Berlin may not sound like a Saturday night out for most, but for some select few, it is. And of course being a voluntary minority in a horror film means one thing: that niche activity/environment you love so much happens to have a psycho killer that loves it more. Who will survive and what will be left of them yada yada yada. Will the first true stalk-and-slash of the festival be a sleeper hit or a sleepy miss?

Rabies - Discovery Screen 5.15pm

A "Hebrew horror comedy"? "Turning horror conventions on its head"? A slot at Tribecca? A one hundred percent positive review aggregate? These are promises that hint at something much more than your run of the mill body-count, turn-your-brain-off, hack 'n' slash. 'Kalevet' is Israels first horror movie and feature debut from Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado (yep, that was a copy and paste job), but gimmicks aside (lest they be used as excuses), will it be a good movie?

Murder in the woods or murder in a tunnel?
Either way it looks like you'll be playing a Cluedo for 90 minutes.

Day 2 - Film 3 - Total Film Interview vs Midnight Son

What may seem like an easy decision to most festival goers, glowing reviews may make you want to rethink before indefatigably choosing the horror panel discussion over the preview of Scott Leberecht's subtle vamp musing 'Midnight Son'.

Total Film Interview & American Horror Discussion - Main Screen 15.05

Call it budget reasons, lack of true inspiration (have you seen Craven or Carpenter's latest offerings), or based off of last years flacid affair, but this year Fright Fest has shrugged it's 'horror icon' section and interview in favor of an interview with little known but fairly proficient director/producer, Larry Fessenden. While many people may shrug at this name, a quick glance at his credit sheet will impress anyone who's been up on the horror scene for the past 5 years; working behind such undeniable favourites as 'House of the Devil' and 'Stakeland' aswell as lesser known gems 'The Last Winter' and 'I Sell The Dead', and even the festival's Sunday afternoon spooky romp 'The Innkeepers', he seems to know his stuff. Partner this with a panel containing fright fest favourites Adam Green, Joe Lynch, Ti West and Lucky McKee (arguably the greatest american genre directors of this decade), all of which have movies premiering or previewing at this years festival to discuss and divulge about, and this discussion looks set to blow anything of years past well out of the water.

Get your camcorders out kids, this looks like one for the history books.

Midnight Son - Discovery Screen 3.00pm

We all know vampires are (however tiresomely) 'in' at the moment. When you've got the mainstream drooling over 'Twilight Saga' and the genre fans re-writing their top 10's with 'Let The Right One In', its no surprise the 'V' word has touched down at Fright Fest again. And while the sub-genre has seen its atrocities these past 12 months ('Dead Cert', anyone?), Midnight Son seems set to attack the cluttered canvas with a new shade of red. Taking the bleak, indie stylings of Van Sant and crossing it with servings of refereshingly real violence, this mircocosm vampire tale should even give the horror discussion panel a run for its money.

Reasons to watch Midnight Son:

1. Its directed by a visual effects artist, who, among other things, has worked on Burton's 'Sleepy Hollow'. Thus, this movie is going to look the bomb.

2. It's a cheap, indie affair. Showing support for these flicks, especially at festival runs, gets these kind of movies both distribution deals and actually made in the first place. Want more Let The Right One In and less Twilight? Show the powers that be that you like these movies.

3. Its an homage piece to Romero's classic 'Martin'.

4. It has a violent finale that made BloodyDisgusting's Brad Miska (who, for those that dont follow the site like a mantra, watches upwards of 300 horror flicks a year) "exclaiming OMFG".

If it makes Mr Disgusting shit his pants, then bring me some of that shit.

For me this is one of the tougher decisions to make this year. While the obvious will more than likely win over, Midnight Son looks a strong contender and for those that get passes to this film purely because they couldnt get into the mainscreen are sure to be pleasantly rewarded.
So whats your thoughts? The legends of this decades horror all in the same room? Or a quiet unassuming but potentially genius vampire fable?

Day 2 - Film 2 'The Holding' vs 'Horrible Way To Die'

Next up (or first up for those who celebrated a tad much the night before) is

'The Holding' - Screen 1 12.45



This is the first of a rain covered bunch littered all over the fest this year: rural brit flicks that ride the ridge between horror and thriller. 'The Holding', the feature length debut from Susan Jacobson, focuses on a mother and her two young girls who, thanks to a recently AWOL husband, have to strugglingly run the family farm on their ownsome. Enter friendly stranger who knows an inordinate amout about the family. Cue tension, dissension and insidious intentions.
It may not bring anything new to the genre but, since reviews are on the nonexistent side, who knows, maybe it will! Considering it was shot for an estimated 3mill. the film looks slick, and any movie where Georgia Groome is not in an 'Angus, Thongs & Full Frontal Snogging' flick is good to me.

'A Horrible Way To Die' - Discovery Screen 12.30



Making a serial killer movie in 2011 is a bit like beating a dead horse, your not gonna go anywhere fast. See Scream 4 for example a). Yet Adam Wingard's taut and supposedly violent thriller is raking in golden reviews that cite it as simultaneously embracing and subverting the genre that seems so tired and overwrote. What strikes me is how reviews are saying the movie situates the audience there with the serial killer (much like 'Behind The Mask', 'Monster' or 'Henry'), yet all released footage seems to follow Sarah, the murders ex girlfriend. Seems like a bag of mysteries for sure. If none of that captures your attention, it also stars AJ Bowen of House Of The Devil, The Signal and Hatchet II genius. Still unconvinced? Go check out the make up effects in this image. Sold?

So who will you be watching die? Brits in the country? Or blonde beauts in the snow?

Day 2- Pt 1 'Rogue River' vs 'Man Who Saw...'

Friday Morning brings us Festers (get it? as in 'to fester' and/or as in 'fest'ival LOL lol lol...) the first decision of the 5 days: Jourdan McClures's Dont-trust-strangers-fable 'Rogue River' or the documentary on 'horror icon' Paul Naschy.

'Rogue River' - Screen 1 10.40

Anyone seen Mum & Dad? How about Timber Falls? Or maybe a film where a lead character - usually a woman- stumbles , or willingly enters, into a stangers house - usually in the woods. Strangers who seem nice and trusting for a second but wait, whats that? then go ape-shit crazy and ends up hacking (or atleast attempting to) the aforementioned protagonist limb from limb. Know that one? Well thats what Rogue River appears to be if the trailer or synopsis is anything to go by. Even the shocks seem to be rehashed, for anyone thats seen Mothers Day (2011) or The Loved Ones (2010) the boiling water mouthwash seen in the trailer wont be overly surprising. Buts that not to say it wont be welcomed with uncomfortable leg crossing and eye-squinting-wincing. Although this looks by the books, it still looks good. Gritty and raw in look (how abouts that 70's exploitation'esque poster?) and with a lead from genre staple Bill Moseley, Rogue River looks to be a perfectly adequate horror/thriller and is sure to pleasantly surprise more than a few of us.

'The Man Who Saw Frankenstein Cry' - Discovery Screen 1o.35


*No trailer seems to be in circulation for this film, so the above is what looks to be an early cut of the doc's opening.

The passing of Paul Naschy in 2009 was to the spanish horror community like the death of Vincent Price was to the rest of the world. This isnt to say this documentary/homage will only be of interest to this niche group. This European horror legend's IMDB account reads like a bonafied catalogue of early horror cinema. He is a legacy. The attractive title comes from an anecdote in which Naschy recalls being on the set of I Spy (1966) with a very aged and disgruntled Boris Karloff who - being left out in inclement weather waiting for a late taxi, sufferingly weep. It is one of very many round-the-camp-fire-tales the life of such an established actor must have. This Angel Agudo documentary, hosted by Mick Garris, and with a plethora of horror cinephiles such as Joe Dante and John Landis, looks to shed some of these tales and recount the life of the legacy.

So which will it be? 'Rogue River' or 'El Hombre Que Vio Llorar A Frankenstein'?

Opening Night

Thursday 25th August

'Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark' 6.30pm



Here it is, the big opener: Del Toro's latest role in the producers chair. From the footage thats been released it promises, if nothing else, to contain some stellar jumps and gorgeous cinematography. Looks to be akinto Joe Dante's 'The Hole' (2010), amped and ramped up, and with some rhyme and reason to the spooky goings on to boot. Can Del Toro's productorial hand guide this to be on par with The Orphanage? Lots more footage to come on this one.

'Final Destination 5' 9.15pm



So apparently David Ellis' 4th installment was not 'THE Final Destination'; but we all knew that. Who cares. The 'Final Destination' are great fun and a packed cinema of true horror fans (several on the side of inebriation) will surely be the best place to cheer/jeer along to this deathfest. With rumored uppings of Tony Todd's role, the brilliant Nicholas D'Agosto and Emma Bell (of Frozen and Walking Dead fame), and several pre-lim' reviews saying its the best of the bunch, I gotta say, it looks good. Plus, I defy anyone to not wince at the gymnast backflipping onto the nail scene. Nasty.

And finally in our introduction to 2011's festivities is

'The Theatre Bizarre' 11.30pm



A horror anthology, Udo Kier as a human puppet, graphic vomiting,a cinema called The Theatre Guignol (Hey Gordon-Lewis fans) , severed achiles tendons, a vagina with pincers, an 8/10 from Bloodydisgusting.com's Brad Miska and effects.by.Savini.(Need i say more). This simply looks incredible; freaky, grimy, funny, and best of all genuinely disturbing. Plus check out it's poster.



I love me some protein

Also worth noting, may this be the double showing with the highest body count ever? What with it being a FD movie and an anthology (that looks to be sustainably gory) back to back? Place your bets on deaths folks, I want guesses in the comments. Whoever gets closest will win a meal with Katie Holmes.*

Oh yeah, and all of these are the films UK premieres. Any chance of spotting Guillermo? Tom Savini? Jeremy Kasten?

*This may not be true, but on request I can always procure a wig.